suffer not our labors to succeed yet he is our God himself still and all desireable good is eminently comprised in him who is a God All-sufficient to those that walk before him and are upright Though he answer me not in the particular wherein I waited upon him he ever answers Secundum cardinem desiderii in such a way as is better for me Though the issue be not secundum voluntatem according to my will yet it is ever ad utilitatem according to my profit and good Paul had not the thing he expresly prayed for to have the messenger of Satan depart from him but he had a sufficiency of grace to uphold him which was much better And as a Merchant is not angry with his Factor though he send him not the commodities he wrote for if he send him those which are ten times more beneficial no more is a believer displeased with the good providence of God when he receives in answer to his labors and prayers not what himself expected but what God knew much better for him III. A special interest in God as our God is a notable argument in Prayer for the obtaining of a gracious Reward unto our sincere Services for upon this ground doth this holy man thrice desire to be remembred of God And upon this ground did our Saviour teach his Disciples to build all their Petitions by calling God Our Father It is the Prayer of Faith the Prayer of a righteous man that is effectual Jam. 5. 15 16. For the Lord will not hear those that regard iniquity in their heart their Prayer is an abomination Psal. 66. 18. The Lord is far from the wicked but he heareth the prayer of the righteous Prov. 15. 29. It is true he is pleased sometimes to take notice of the Cries and Prayers of Nature and to return some answer unto them that even wicked men may know that it is not in vain even for them to seek the Lord and therefore such as their Prayers are such returns he is pleased many times to make unto them So God heard the voice of Ishmael crying for Water and shewed Hagar a Well Gen. 21. 17 19. He took notice of the humiliation of Ahab and thereupon respited the judgment which he had threatned 1 King 21. 29. As Abraham though he gave the blessing and the inheritance unto Isaac yet he gave gifts to the rest of his children Gen. 25. 5 6. So the Lord though he reserve his great Reward for the heirs of promise yet he leaveth not himself without witness even amongst others giving such benefits unto them as they tender services unto him they give none but outward services desire none but outward benefits and according to the nature of their services and desires the Lord answereth them with meer outward good things But the Prayer of Faith pleading the great and precious promises of the new Covenant and calling upon God as a Father by the Spirit of his Son shed abroad into the hearts of those who are heirs of promise hath two great advantages above any other meer Natural prayer 1. It is sure to obtain pardon for what failings and miscarriages proceed from humane infirmity the Lord sparing his children as a man spareth his own son that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. and Christ bearing the iniquity of our holy things 2. It is sure to obtain spiritual rewards for those holy and sincere performances which proceed from the grace and assistance of the Spirit of Christ the Lord being pleased first by his grace to work all our works for us Isai. 26. 12. And then by a second grace to reward them and to crown his own mercies in us For verily there is a reward for the righteous Psal. 58. 11. Matth. 10. 41. And thus we receive grace for grace the grace of remuneration for the grace of obedience the grace of God enabling us to work and the grace of God rewarding us for working For though it be the work which is rewarded yet the reward is not of mans work but of Gods grace Rom. 4. 4. 11. 6. Both these graces did this holy Nehemiah beg in the confidence of his interest in God as his God Remember me O my God concerning this also and spare me according to the greatness of thy meroy Nehe. 13. 22. Remember me to spare me for my sinful infirmities remember me to reward me for my sincere performances and both these onely upon the accompt of thy great mercy Nothing but great mercy passeth by many sins nothing but great mercy rewardeth weak services I have done with the words and have from all but a word more to say unto you What the nature of that great undertaking is which God hath thus graciously moved your hearts to begin at the doors of his Sanctuary and to consecrate your selves unto by inquiring of him and seeking of him a right way is much better known to you then to me who have little inspection into such things But being a very weighty business and possibly full of variety and difficulty and all men being subject to errors and mistakes to impotency and infirmity to sinful failings and defects to difference of judgments and divided affections and all humane actions being obnoxious to misconstructions and various miscarriages And God having reserved events and successes in his proper power it is therefore your duty in all your addresses unto action to make your first applications unto God that he would lead you by his Spirit and cause you to make his Word your Counsellors that he would work all your works for you and shine upon your counsels and undertakings by his special blessing that he would preserve you from all mistakes and misunderstandings and pour out upon you a spirit of unity and agreement that he would forgive all your failings and teach you to approve your hearts and consciences unto him in well-doing that your labors may so be conversant about treasures here below as that your hearts and affections may be upon things above and you may with such sincerity courage zeal and holy affections go through the duties of your places and callings here as that you may be able to look backward with comfort upon a fruitful life and forward with Faith and Hope upon a glorious Reward and conclude your lives and your labors as Nehemiah doth his Book with a Remember me O my God for Good And we should all learn so to lead our lives with such an eye to Gods Word and Rule to his glory and honor to the service of his Church and our Generation to be so diligent careful prudent sincere trusty faithful in every service which lieth upon us as that when we come to die and give up our accompts to him we may be able to say Lord I have been faithful in that little service wherein thou hast employed me let me now enter into my Masters joy I have remembred thy Name to glorifie thee I have remembred thy
20. The Church professeth That in the name of their God they would set up their Banners Psal. 20. 5. David went unarmed in the confidence of that name against Goliah because God was the God of the hosts of Israel 1 Sam. 17. 45. In all their marches and motions in the Wilderness this was their comfort That they had a God which went before them as their Captain who was able to scatter all their enemies Num. 10. 35 36. Psal. 68. 7 8. In this confidence Asa and Jehoshaphat applied themselves to God as their God and went on with courage and comfort against huge armies of enemies 2 Chron. 14. 11. 20. 6 7 11 12. By this faith Gideon Barak Sampson Jephthah David subdued Kingdoms obtained Promises stopped the mouths of Lions quenched the violence of the fire escaped the edge of the Sword out of weakness were made strong waxed valiant in fight c. Heb. 11. 32 34. 1. Faith is an active and working grace Remembring your work of faith saith the Apostle 1 Thes. 1. 3. It will not let men be idle or unfruitful 2 Pet. 1. 8. It knows what a back and strength it hath in the truth and power of God through whom it can do all things Phil. 4. 13. And thereupon what it findeth to do it doth with its might 2. It is an Heroical grace as the Philosopher saith of Wisdom That it is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the knowledge of the most honorable things so we may say of Faith That it undertaketh the most honorable things eyeth great objects pursueth great ends looketh upon all things as possible Mark 9. 23. and therefore is not dismayed at any What an Heroical Faith was that of Joshuah whereby he prevailed with God in Prayer to stop the course of the Sun and Moon while Israel was avenged on their enemies Josh. 10. 12. And though Ordinary Faith be not a Faith of miracles yet it hath a nobleness and a greatness in it whereby it can in the assurance of its interest in God set upon great actions which are conformable unto his Will 3. It is a valiant and victorious Grace is not afraid of Men or Devils when it hath made sure of God It quencheth the fiery darts of Satan it overcomes the world One David having God for his God was not afraid of Ten thousand of Armies of men Psal. 3. 6. 27. 3. By his God he can run through a Troop and leap over a Wall and break a Bow of Steel Psal. 18. 29. Nothing is invincible to Faith it can level Mountains Zach. 4. 7. It can more then conquer greatest difficulties Rom. 8. 35 37. As one man by an Engine may move Bodies which an hundred without it could not stir so by the Engine of Faith things are many times effected which to sense and reason do seem impossible 4. It is a Patient Grace it is not discouraged with every obstacle nor dismayed with every terriculament nor wearied with every encounter but like Box or Holly and such other Trees retains its verdure in the Winter and holds out amidst all difficulties unto the End knows how near the promised mercies are and doth chearfully press forward towards them says with those in the Prophet Isai. 25. 9. This is our God we have waited for him and he will save us Faith doth not suffer a man to draw back but patiently to continue in well-doing that he may after a little while receive the promises Heb. 10. 36 39. Rom. 2. 7. 5. It is a Praying Grace can in every exigent and distress call down invisible help from God And none go with more vigor about any enterprise then they who being backed with potent friends and having free-access unto great Treasures are able in any extremity to obtain the concurrent counsels and succors of others to further their designs The Apostle bids us by Faith to ask wisdom of God that thereby patience may go thorow and have her perfect work Jam. 1. 4 5 6. God hath honored Faith and Repentance in the Gospel above other graces because they have a peculiar vertue to carry us out of our selves in Prayer unto God And no graces do more promote great actions then self-denying graces when men have ends and aids above themselves Carnal ends domestical interests and private affections do usually obstruct noble undertakings because such men as soon as storms arise and difficulties shake them forsake the proper and internal merits of the business and hold or alter their resolutions according as their own personal hopes or fears do dictate unto them And therefore the best way to make strong and steady progress in any serious employment is to have God for our God that in every difficulty we may be able to have recourse unto him for counsel wisdom succor support and may be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might II. As Faith is a special principle of action in great undertakings so it is a special ground of comfort in the reviewing of them when we can say In this action though full of many difficulties yet Faith in God as my God hath upheld me and carried me through it to the end I have undertaken it not in mine own strength nor in the confidence of mine own wisdom but in an holy fear and comfortable dependance upon God I have aimed at his glory and at publick interest I have not immixed nor interwoven in it any carnal counsels or sinful projects of mine own I have labored to keep a good conscience in doing of mine own duty and have cast my self upon his holy providence for the event In this case the Lord doth ordinarily return such an answer of peace to works that are done in the fear of his name by the rule of his Word in the comfort of his promises and with submission to his providence as that one way or other the heart shall be able to take comfort in it For Faith is a successful grace and hath a promise of prospering Believe in the Lord your God so shall you be established beleeve his Prophets so shall you prosper 2 Chron. 20. 20. By Faith Israel passed through the Red Sea and saw the victory of their Faith in the ruine of their proud enemies Exod. 14. 30 31. If the Lord bless the undertaking it self with a desired success Faith hath this comfort That it is a blessing received from the hand of a Father an evidence of his love an accession unto the gift of his Son with whom he freely giveth all other things It is the portion which God hath graciously given unto his servant and though the thing given be good it self yet the favor and blessing of God which comes along with it is much more excellent as the Money in the Mouth of the Fish or the Pearl in the Body of the Oyster is more precious then that which was the vehiculum of it And on the other hand if the Lord
be duly praised and glorified Chap. 12. By all which we learn that the greater mens care is of the service and glory of God the fitter instruments they are to do great works and the more likely to prosper in the doing of them because they that honor God he will honor 1 Sam. 2. 30. So long as Uzziah sought the Lord God made him to prosper 2 Chro. 26. 5. Hezekiah trusted the Lord and clave to him and the Lord was with him and blessed him whithersoever he went 2 King 18. 5 6 7. 2 Chron. 31. 21. But when Jehoshaphat joyned with Ahaziah who did very wickedly the Lord brake his ships and disappointed his expedition 2 Chro. 20. 35 37. Lastly His special wisdom and care to heal the sinful breaches and divisions which were amongst the people causing them to enter into a solemn promise to make reparations of all injuries done unto their poor Brethren and to prevent the reproach of the Heathen Chap. 5. 11 12 13. In great companies and great businesses it is hardly possible to carry things on in so smooth and regular a way but that some differences of judgment may arise and cause difficulties breaches and obstructions in the whole work and as our Saviour saith of Kingdoms Cities Houses so may we of companies and undertakings that divisions will endanger their standing Matth. 12. 25. It is one of Gods sore judgments when he intendeth to shatter and disappoint enterprises to send a spirit of division amongst those who are concerned in it as he did between the men of Shechem and Abimelech Judg. 9. 23. and between the Host of the Midianites Judg. 7. 22. and of the Ammonites Moabites and Edomites 2 Chron. 20. 22 23. And so he threatneth to do with the Egyptians Isai. 19. 2. and with the Armies of Gog and Magog Ezek. 38. 21. The like whereunto we read of in Pausanias and in Dionysius Halicarnasseus In which case wise and prudent men as Nehemiah here will use their uttermost endeavors to heal breaches to close up divisions to prevent mistakes to finde out expedients wherein all may readily agree for the preventing of those evils which differences of judgment if not timely cured may be likely to produce In which case there is nothing more conducent then mutual mildeness meekness and condescension So Abraham healed the breach which was going to be made between a his family and the family of Lot his Kinsman Gen. 13. 17 8. Therefore Rulers are called Healers Isai. 3. 7. And so Christ is described as a binder up and a strengthner Ezek. 34. 16. And Moses the first Ruler which God chose for his people was the meekest man alive Numb. 12. 3. Certainly meekness is a very great ornament and a very great instrument of power We may think that we shew our power by our stiffness and inflexibleness but it is a great evidence of power to be of an yeelding and a meek disposition It shews first a great power which a man hath over his own spirit which is a work of more power sometimes then the taking of a City Prov. 16. 32. Secondly It shews great humility and self-denial when as the Apostle speaks Nothing is done through strife or vain-glory but in lowliness of minde each esteemeth other better then themselves Phil. 2. 3. And do mutually submit unto one another in the fear of God Ephes. 5. 21. 1 Pet. 5. 5. And in honor prefer one another Rom. 12. 10. The Apostle made himself a servant to all and studied to please all for their good 1 Cor. 9. 19 22. Faciet sapiens said Seneca quae non probavit ut ad majora transitum inveniat A wise man will sometimes deny his own judgment in order to a greater good And it is an excellent direction of Hilary Ex alienis utilitatibus placere nec offendere ex propriis To be ready to make it appear unto other men that I am more desirous to please them upon the accompt of their profit then to offend them upon the accompt of mine own Istae cogitationes deprimentes superbiam tenentes charitatem faciunt onera fraterna invicem libentissimè sustineri saith St. Austin Thirdly It imitates the example of Christ who did not look on his own things but on the things of others Phil. 2. 4 5. And of the Lord whom Moses besought by an argument drawn from his power to be patient and long-suffering unto his people Numb. 14. 17 18. We have seen in Nehemiah the things which he remembred to do and which having done them he beseecheth God to remember And though the words seem to have properly a Retrospect onely to what had been done yet because we finde Nehemiah praying when he began these excellent works Chap. 1. 6 11. we shall therefore extend this prayer both ways both as an humble representation of his own sincerity before God in what he had done and likewise as an humble imploring of being remembred by God in what he should further do For the former of these considerations as the words have a Retrospect to what he had already done we shall consider them under a double notion first as the Comfort of this good man secondly as his Prayer As his Comfort he reviewed and looked back upon those good works which God had enabled him to do with much complacency and delight And this the Lord alloweth his servants to do For though in some respect the Apostle telleth us That he forgat the things behinde Phil. 3. 13. As not esteeming his work finished or his pace to be slackned upon his past acquirements yet in regard of comfort the same Apostle doth once and again make mention of his former conscionable conversation as matter of present rejoycing unto him Acts 24. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 12. 1 Thes. 2. 10. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. So did Job I have not concealed the words of the holy One Job 6. 10. The conscience of his true faith worship and constant obedience to the words of the holy One made him assured of comfort in his death and so elswhere Chap. 23. 10 11 12. Chap. 31. So Hezekiah Isai. 38. 3. Yea God is pleased to mention the good works of his servants for their comfort Job 1. 8. Joh. 1. 47. Acts 10. 4. Revel. 2. 2. And he hath appointed Officers on purpose to shew a man his uprightness and thereupon to comfort him Job 33. 23 26. And hath given every man a conscience in his bosom to report the consolations of the holy Spirit unto wel-doing and to be a continual feast within him Prov. 15. 15. As {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} an habit of practical principles so it bindes us as {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a knowledge of duty done so it comforts us 1 Joh. 3. 20. Qui facit praeceptum comparat paracletum The Reasons hereof are 1. A godly life hath pardon of failings and this is matter